Jordan Spieth recently revealed that he has dislocated his wrist twelve times over the past five months. Despite this setback, Spieth remains determined and optimistic, celebrating each successful day as a victory.
Spieth, once a dominant force in golf, reached the pinnacle of the sport in 2015 when he was in contention for a single-year Grand Slam and held the World No. 1 ranking. He won The Open at Birkdale in 2017, suggesting a prolonged period of dominance. However, he hasn’t won a major since and has now dropped to 34th in the world rankings. Though it may be hard to believe there are 33 players better than Spieth, the results speak for themselves. The real story behind his decline lies in the injury that has plagued him for half a year.
Explaining his condition, Spieth said, “My tendon essentially dislocates. It’s dislocated about a dozen times since February. When it does, I can’t grip the club. When I get it back in, I’m fine, but my brain is just saying: ‘Don’t do it.’” He realizes that this injury has been affecting him more than he initially thought, and he plans to get it fixed once his season ends. Although the dislocations do not occur during golf rounds, they happen at home with his kids, making it a strange scenario where he can resume hitting balls within an hour after resetting his wrist.
The injury has impacted Spieth’s consistency, especially with short irons and wedges, which has been frustrating given that he has been driving well and putting excellently. Despite this, Spieth hopes his wrist holds up for another month or so.
For someone who has reached such heights in golf, it is undoubtedly frustrating for Spieth not to be in contention currently. The odds of 66/1 from some bookies reflect his recent struggles. Nevertheless, Spieth maintains a positive outlook. Winning tournaments is not his only measure of success; moving in the right direction brings him joy as well.
Spieth remarked, “The one golfer (Tiger Woods) it hadn’t happened to still has had it happen because of injury, you just don’t play the what could have been game with him. With everyone else, I guess it’s just part of the game.” He acknowledges that the game is more enjoyable when playing at one’s peak, but he also embraces the journey of climbing back up. Every day of improvement and enjoyment is as rewarding as winning.
Reflecting on his past, Spieth admitted that being World No. 1 and winning The Open can feel distant due to the valleys he has experienced since then. The challenge now is to regain that level of performance, which is tougher than maintaining it once at the top. Despite his efforts over the past couple of years, the results have been limited. His swing mechanics have not been as sound as they used to be, not due to a lack of effort or knowledge, but because of the physical limitations caused by his injury.
Spieth finds some solace in understanding that his issues are not due to a lack of skill but rather a physical impediment. Knowing that he can fix the problem and potentially return to his former level of play provides him with hope and a clear path forward.
In summary, Jordan Spieth’s struggle with his wrist injury has significantly impacted his performance and ranking. Despite the setbacks, he remains positive, focusing on daily improvements and the journey back to the top. His resilience and determination continue to define his approach to the game, and he looks forward to addressing his injury and regaining his form.
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